Linda’s blog

Here are a few more pictures from my trip to India.

 

 

Tonight I went with Peter and Nassar to a barbecue restaurant.  We had a great time.  Check it out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We've been talking about why American's say bless you or God bless you when someone sneezes.  I think it began during the plaque as a means to tell the person God bless you, because you may die.  Here are a few other ideas regarding sneezing...

 

There are many superstitions regarding sneezing, some of which you've already listed. But here are some of my favorites.

Sneeze on Monday for health,
Sneeze on Tuesday for wealth,
Sneeze on Wednesday for a letter, 
Sneeze on Thursday for something better,
Sneeze on Friday for sorrow,
Sneeze on Saturday, see your sweetheart tomorrow,
Sneeze on Sunday, safety seek.

One for sorrow
Two for joy
Three for a letter
Four for a boy.
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven for a secret, never to be told.

 

And lastly, a sneeze before breakfast is a sign that you will hear exciting news before the end of the day.

Some thoughts:

• HBO here at the Hotel has commercials 
• Morning and Afternoon breaks at work where tea and cookies are served should be implemented back home
• A DVD player and Bose surround speakers should be required in every hotel room
• A double shower head steam shower again should be required in every hotel room
• Animals need more protected rights regardless of where they live

View from the balcony at the office in Bangalore.

 

 

Picture of the food court.  Different country same ole food court.  And yes that is Subway.

 

 

Went to a food court at a local mall today for lunch.  Had some dosa with lamb mince.  See below.  It was very spicey and hot.  Quite good.  I ate it with my hands. 

 

 

Tonight I ate with some friends at Sunny's.  The electic restaurant is named after a Golden Retriever and a portion of your bill will go to solving the homeless pet problem that plaques this city.  We dined on wonderful appetizers - parmesan friscoe, moo shu chicken (very spicey) and fried calamarie (sp).  We all enjoyed pasta as our main course washed down with some great wine.  A great evening in the heart of Bangalore.  Here's what another person had to say about this restaurant.

 

Eating out has become a regular for Bangaloreans, and keeping in-synch with these gastronomic cultures, are loads of great restaurants in the metro. Italian and continental foods are high on the gourmand’s lists, and relishing them with good wines are always good times. So if you want to savour authentic European gourmet spreads, then enter the epicure world of Sunny’s.

This charming inn is named after a pet golden retriever, and is the inspiration of Arjun Sajnani and Vivek Ubhayakar. The restaurant can accommodate over 150 guests, and has a non-smoking section, bar and lounge on the mezzanine, and a great garden sit out. There is an awesome delicatessen here, where you can pick-up imported food stuffs like cheese and meat.

You can start by digging into some great appetizers like golden fried prawns, goat cheese crostini, smoked salmon rolls with cheese, zucchini rolls with tofu and prawn cocktails.

The tavern serves many types of imported and local spirits, and is a great place to set the mood on fire. There is also a heady collection of cocktails here like blue berry cobbler, tequila sunrise, ginger mint martini, ice bull, and a few with unusual concoctions.

Calorie watchers can order some great soups like mushroom barley, iced gazpacho, pistou and puree of spinach. There are many succulent and fresh salad platters to choose from like Caesar salad, potato salad, tuna salad and mozzarella salad with onion, tomato and balsamic vinaigrette.

Pizzas like margarita, spinach and garlic, roast pepper and chicken, ham and asparagus and smoked salmon will send your tummy into a dizzy spell. Then there are many types of pastas and sandwiches to relish in.

Wait there is more, as the main course is just getting ready! You can choose from a wide array of delightful vegetarian, chicken, seafood, beef, pork and lamb dishes. The menu here is eclectic, and a few are the grilled vegetable platter, chicken breasts with leeks and saffron cream, grilled salmon steak, lamb chops, beef  stroganoff and seared tournedos of beef in brandy and red wine sauce.

Hope you have kept some space for desserts, as there are some sinful yummy delights here that will take your breath away. Lip-smacking items like Swiss chocolate truffle torte, lemon poppy seed cake, and lemon tarts topped with whipped cream, crème brulee and frozen rum raisin chocolate fudge are some of them.

Ambience-wise, this place is simple, spacious and lovely. Though, do be warned this place is likely to leave a dent in your wallet, but is worth every penny, so go ahead and splurge when the occasion suits you.

Today I needed a bit of laundry done.  I was met by the gentleman that would clean my room as I left for the day.  He greeted me by name and asked if I had any laundry to be done today.  How did he know?  I replied that yes I did and that I left the bag on my bed.  He further asked how my room was suiting my needs and I thanked him for all the fresh flowers.  Tonight I returned to this wicker basket on my bed.  In it was my laundry that I requested to be done.  All neat and clean in a wonderful presentation.  This hotel is amazing. 

 

 

This celebration is set to begin tomorrow, Wednesday. 

 

Ganesha Chaturthi, the great Ganesha festival, also known as 'Vinayak Chaturthi' or 'Vinayaka Chavithi' is celebrated by Hindus around the world as the birthday of Lord Ganesha. It is observed during the Hindu month of Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September) and the grandest and most elaborate of them, especially in the western India state of Maharashtra, lasts for 10 days, ending on the day of 'Ananta Chaturdashi'.

The Grand Celebration

A life-like clay model of Lord Ganesha is made 2-3 months prior to the day of Ganesh Chaturthi. The size of this idol may vary from 3/4th of an inch to over 25 feet.

On the day of the festival, it is placed on raised platforms in homes or in elaborately decorated outdoor tents for people to view and pay their homage. The priest, usually clad in red silk dhoti and shawl, then invokes life into the idol amidst the chanting of mantras. This ritual is called 'pranapratishhtha'. After this the 'shhodashopachara' (16 ways of paying tribute) follows. Coconut, jaggery, 21 'modakas' (rice flour preparation), 21 'durva' (trefoil) blades and red flowers are offered. The idol is anointed with red unguent or sandal paste (rakta chandan). Throughout the ceremony, Vedic hymns from the Rig Veda and Ganapati Atharva Shirsha Upanishad, and Ganesha stotra from the Narada Purana are chanted.

For 10 days, from Bhadrapad Shudh Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi, Ganesha is worshipped. On the 11th day, the image is taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing, singing, to be immersed in a river or the sea symbolizing a ritual see-off of the Lord in his journey towards his abode in Kailash while taking away with him the misfortunes of all man. All join in this final procession shouting "Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya" (O father Ganesha, come again early next year). After the final offering of coconuts, flowers and camphor is made, people carry the idol to the river to immerse it.

The whole community comes to worship Ganesha in beautifully done tents. These also serve as the venue for free medical checkup, blood donation camps, charity for the poor, dramatic performances, films, devotional songs, etc. during the days of the festival.

Swami Sivananda Recommends
On the Ganesh Chaturthi day, meditate on the stories connected with Lord Ganesha early in the morning, during the Brahmamuhurta period. Then, after taking a bath, go to the temple and do the prayers of Lord Ganesha. Offer Him some coconut and sweet pudding. Pray with faith and devotion that He may remove all the obstacles that you experience on the spiritual path. Worship Him at home, too. You can get the assistance of a pundit. Have an image of Lord Ganesha in your
house. Feel His Presence in it.

Don’t forget not to look at the moon on that day; remember that it behaved unbecomingly towards the Lord. This really means avoid the company of all those who have no faith in God, and who deride God, your Guru and religion, from this very day.

Take fresh spiritual resolves and pray to Lord Ganesha for inner spiritual strength to attain success in all your undertakings.